Using ‘threaten’ in a sentence: an explanation starts with its ordinary meaning. “Threaten” usually means to express an intention to cause harm, or to indicate that harm, loss, or danger may happen.

What does “threaten” mean?

To threaten can mean that a person says or does something that communicates a possible harmful consequence. It can also mean that a condition, event, or problem puts someone or something at risk.

In the first sense, the subject is usually a person: “Jordan threatened to report the neighbour to the condominium board.” In the second sense, the subject may be weather, illness, or an event: “Heavy rain threatened the outdoor concert.”

The word does not always mean physical violence. A person might threaten to cancel an arrangement, reveal information, make a complaint, or take some other action. Whether the language sounds serious, conditional, angry, joking, vague, or specific depends on the full context.

Important legal-context note

Summary: minimum: none; maximum: 2 years less a day and/or 5000 fine. Indictable: minimum:none, maximum: 2 years incarceration, 5 years incarceration

— Jeffrey I. Reisman, criminal defence lawyer

This quoted summary should not be treated as verified legal advice or as a complete statement of the current law. Criminal consequences depend on the precise allegation, the wording and context of a communication, the applicable Criminal Code provision, how the Crown proceeds, and current law at the time of the case.

For example, the Criminal Code offence often described as uttering threats is addressed in section 264.1 of the Criminal Code. It covers specified threats, including threats to cause death or bodily harm, damage property, or harm an animal, but whether an allegation meets the legal test depends on evidence and legal analysis rather than on one word alone.

How to use “threaten” in a sentence

Use “threaten” as a verb when someone communicates a possible consequence or when a risk endangers something. The most common patterns are “threaten someone,” “threaten to do something,” and “threaten someone with something.”

• Threaten someone: “The manager did not threaten the employee.” This construction identifies the person receiving the threat but does not say what was allegedly threatened.
• Threaten to do something: “Maya threatened to leave the group project.” The infinitive, “to leave,” states the action the speaker said they might take.
• Threaten someone with something: “The caller threatened the tenant with a complaint.” The phrase after “with” identifies the consequence or action being raised.

Choose the pattern that makes the meaning precise. “He threatened her” may leave a reader asking what was said, while “He threatened to post the private photos” identifies the alleged action. Precision matters in ordinary writing and can matter greatly when messages are being interpreted after a dispute.

Examples of “threaten” for a person’s words or conduct

When “threaten” describes a person’s words or conduct, it usually takes a person as the subject and identifies the target or the threatened action. The surrounding words help the reader understand whether it is a serious warning, an attempt at pressure, a prediction, or an exaggeration.

• “During the argument, Lee threatened to quit the volunteer committee.”
• “The customer threatened to file a complaint if the billing error was not corrected.”
• “She said she felt threatened by the repeated messages.”
• “The coach warned the team about the rule but did not threaten anyone.”

These examples are deliberately non-violent, but they show an important grammar point: the verb describes what is communicated or perceived. In a real disagreement, quoting the exact words, preserving the full message thread, and noting what happened before and after a statement can be more useful than relying on a label such as “threatening.”

For example, a person who texts, “If you do not return my $300 deposit by Friday, I will file a claim,” is describing a possible step they intend to take. A reader may dislike the message, but the legal significance, if any, cannot be determined from the verb “threaten” alone.

Examples of “threaten” for danger or risk

“Threaten” can also describe danger without any person making a statement. In this use, the subject is the source of the risk, not a speaker communicating an intention.

• “Freezing temperatures threatened the early vegetable crop.”
• “A computer virus threatened the company’s records.”
• “Construction delays threatened the event date.”
• “The storm threatened to flood the basement.”

This use is useful because it separates grammatical meaning from a communicated threat. A storm can threaten property, but it cannot be accused of uttering words.

“Threaten,” “threatened,” and “threatening”

“Threaten” is the base and present-tense verb, “threatened” is the past tense and past participle, and “threatening” is the present participle and can also work as an adjective. Select the form based on when the action happened and how it functions in the sentence.

• Threaten: “They threaten to cancel the reservation every year.”
• Threatened: “They threatened to cancel the reservation yesterday.”
• Threatening: “The email sounded threatening to the recipient.”

“Threatening” describes the apparent quality of words, conduct, or a situation. It does not by itself answer whether someone committed an offence; it says how something appeared or was characterized.

Common mistakes when using “threaten”

Use “threaten to” before an action and “threaten with” before the thing or consequence being raised. Clear wording avoids turning a specific statement into an unclear accusation.

• Use: “The landlord threatened to change the locks.”
• Use: “The landlord threatened the tenant with eviction.”
• Usually clearer than “threatened that”: “The landlord threatened to seek eviction,” rather than “The landlord threatened that the tenant would leave.”
• Be specific: “She said the message was threatening because it referred to damaging her car,” rather than simply “She was threatened.”

“Threaten that” is possible in some sentences, particularly when reporting a proposition: “The report threatened that the project would fail without funding.” In everyday writing, however, “threaten to” is often clearer when the subject is the person who may act.

Does calling something a threat make it a criminal matter?

No. Calling words a threat in ordinary conversation does not automatically make them a criminal matter; the legal question depends on the actual words, the surrounding circumstances, the intended meaning, and the applicable law.

If police contact you about a message or alleged statement, preserve relevant messages and avoid further contact that could worsen the situation or be misunderstood. Before discussing the allegation with police, obtain legal advice tailored to the facts; an uttering threats defence lawyer can explain the process and the issues raised by the communication.

The same caution applies where an argument occurs in another setting. An allegation involving a partner or family member may also raise issues discussed by a domestic assault attorney, while a separate allegation about refusing a police demand concerns different legal questions from the wording of a message; see information about breathalyzer Ontario.

Quick FAQ about using “threaten” in a sentence

Is “threaten” a verb? Yes. It is a verb meaning to communicate an intended harmful consequence or to create a risk of harm or loss.

What does “threaten” mean? It can describe a person expressing an intention to do something harmful or adverse, or a danger that may affect people, property, or plans.

Can “threaten” refer to a risk rather than a person? Yes. A storm can threaten a building, a disease can threaten public health, and a delay can threaten a deadline.

What words commonly follow “threaten”? “To” commonly introduces an action, as in “threaten to leave,” while “with” commonly introduces the consequence, as in “threaten someone with a complaint.”

Does “threatening” mean a crime occurred? No. “Threatening” is an ordinary descriptive word, and a criminal-law assessment requires a close look at the communication, context, and evidence.

Speak with a Toronto criminal defence lawyer

If you are being investigated or charged over words, texts, calls, or online messages described as threats, early legal advice can help you understand what not to say and what information to preserve.

Call 647-351-HELP (4357) or book a free consultation to discuss your case with Jeffrey I. Reisman.